Authority - Leadership Styles

exert control

"Power has the potential to control the behavior of others while authority has the potential to ____ ____ through the legitimacy of a managerial position."

legitimacy

Authority represents the right to expect or secure compliance; it is backed up by ___

• Line Authority

• Staff Authority

• Team Authority

Forms of Authority: LST

Line Authority

Direct supervisory, authority from superior to subordinate. Authority flows in a direct chain of command from the top of the company to the bottom.

chain of command; unity of command

In Line Authority, the _______ is strictly followed. There is ______ within the chain that cannot be broken otherwise there will be chaos in the organization.

Span of Control

Refers to the number of employees that should be placed under the direction of one leader-manager.

• Chain of command

• Unity of command

• Span of Control

Line Authority is composed of: CUS

Chain of Command

Is an unbroken line of reporting relationship that extends through the entire organization.

formal decision-making structure.

In Chain of Command:
The line defines the chain of command and the _________. It helps employees know whom they are accountable, and whom to go to with a problem

Unity of Command

Within the chain states that each person in an organization should take orders from and reports to only one person. This helps prevent conflicting demands being placed on employees by more than one senior.

Span of Control

Refers to the number of employees that should be placed under the direction of one leader-manager.

Staff Authority

• There is more limited authority to advise. It is based on expertise and usually involves advising line managers.

• Staff members are advisers and counselors who aid line departments in making decisions but do not have the authority to make final decisions.

• Staff supervisors help line departments decide what to do and how to do it.

Team Authority

• Is granted to committees or work teams involved in an organizations daily operations.

• They are empowered to plan and organize their own work and to perform that work with a minimum of supervision.

Work teams

are groups of operating employees who share a common vision, goals, and objectives.

Responsibility

• Is the corresponding obligation and accountability answers for all actions done.

• The authority granted must equal the assigned responsibility. Upon accepting the delegated task, the nurse-employee has incurred an obligation to perform the assigned work and to properly utilize the granted authority.

• Is the obligation to do assigned tasks. The nurse-employee is responsible to be proficient at her job.

• Individual Responsibilities

• Organizational Responsibilities

Categories of Responsibility:

Individual Responsibilities

Nurses have this to be proficient in their job. They are responsible for their actions. Nobody gives or delegates this. They assume them when they accept a position in the organization.

Organizational Responsibilities

Refer to collective organizational accountability and include how well departments perform their work.

Accountability

• When someone is responsible for something, she is liable or accountable to a superior for the outcome. This means that a nurse will have to answer for the results or outcomes of her actions and decisions in her work.

• Is answering for the result of one’s actions or omissions.

• It is a form of reckoning, where one accepts the consequences of their decisions, good or bad.

• It also establishes reasons, motives, and importance for actions in the eyes of manager and employees alike.

• Is the final act in the establishment of one’s credibility. It is important to remember that

upward

Accountability flows ____ in the organization.

• Formal Leader

• Informal Leader

Types of Leaders:

Formal Leader

is appointed, elected, or designated, deliberately chosen by the administration and given the authority to act. He/she holds a formal position that has been determined as needed in the organization.

• Everyone in the nursing unit recognizes him as the leader.

Area Manager or Head Nurse

Example of Formal Leader:

Informal Leader

Does not have the official sanction to direct the activities of others. He/she is chosen by his group itself as in a social group, or church group because of age, seniority, special competence, or personality.

• Passive or Non-Assertive

• Aggressive

• Assertive

Behavior of Leaders: PAA

Passive or Non-Assertive Behavior

The leader feels self-pity and lacks self-worth, acts apologetically, is easily dominated by others, and speaks hesitantly, softly refusing to look at others when talking

low self-worth and confidence

Passive or Non-Assertive Behavior

Has self-denial issues, is inhibited, and puts herself down as a norm. This behavior of the leader is borne from ______ and ____

Aggressive Behavior

• Talks loudly on every subject. She often depreciates other’s remarks and has shown insensitivity to the feelings of other people. She disregards other people’s rights and her aggressive behavior is characterized by her propensity to point a finger and say ‘you’ frequently.

• Oftentimes enhance themselves at the expense of others. They dictate the actions of others and achieve desired goals by hurting others

Assertive Behavior

• Is the midway between passive and aggressive. They express opinions and beliefs without infringing or belittling the right of belief of others.

• They refuse to be dominated or manipulated. They strive to enhance self and others. They are also quite expressive. They naturally feel good about their self.

• Autocratic leadership style

• Bureaucratic

• Democratic

• Laizzez-Faire

Leadership Styles: ABDL

Autocratic Leadership Style

• Is often considered the classical approach.

• The nurse leader-manager retains as much power and decision-making authority as possible.

• The nurses are expected to obey orders without receiving any explanations.

• The nursing staff is motivated by rewards and punishments.

• Autocratic leaders rely on threats and punishment to influence others, they do not trust employees. Yet, autocratic leadership is not bad all bad

emergency care set-up

Autocratic Leadership style can be the best style in an ___________

Bureaucratic Leadership Style

• Is where the nurse leader-manager manages “by the book”

• Everything must be done according to procedure, or policy.

• If it is not covered by the book, the nurse leader-manager refers to the next level above her.

• The bureaucratic nurse leader-manager is really more of a police officer than a leader.

1. Routine tasks are performed.

2. Certain standards or procedures are to be understood.

3. Employees are working with dangerous or delicate equipment that requires a definite set of procedures to operate.

4. Safety or security training is being conducted.

5. Employees are performing tasks that require handling cash.

Bureaucratic leadership style can be effective when: RSDSC

Democratic Leadership Style

• Is also called the participative style as it encourages employees to be part of the decision-making.

• They share decision-making and problem-solving responsibilities.

• Nurses are considered rational individuals who can perform assigned tasks efficiently and effectively according to standards set by the profession or organization or the nursing practice.

• This style requires the leader to be a coach who has the final say but gathers information from staff members before making a decision.

• Many employees like the trust they receive and respond with cooperation, team spirit, and high morale.

well-informed

Under democratic leadership, the nurses are _____ about everything that affects their work

high quality and high quantity work

Democratic leadership can produce ______ and _____ work for long periods of time.

• Develops plans to help employees evaluate their own performance.

• Allows employees to establish goals

• Encourages employees to grow on the job and be promoted.

• Recognizes and encourages achievement

• Shares the problem-solving and decision-making with the staff

• Encourages team building and participation.

Typically the democratic leader:

Laissez-Faire Leadership Style

• Also known as the “hands-off style”

• It is little or no direction from the leader and the nursing staff has as much freedom as possible.

• All authority or power is given to the employees and they determine goals, make decisions, and resolve problems on their own.

• Employees are highly skilled, experienced, and educated.

• Employees have pride in their work and the drive to do it successfully on their own.

• Outside experts, such as staff specialists or consultants are being used.

• Employees are trustworthy and experienced.

Laissez-Faire Leadership Style is an effective style to use when: